Olowalu, Hawaii Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Olowalu, Hawaii
Census-designated place
A view of Olowalu
Government
• Body	Maui County Council
Area
• Total	7.6 km² (2.94 sq mi)
• Land	7.6 km² (2.94 sq mi)
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population (2020)
• Total	100
• Density	13.12/km² (33.97/sq mi)
• Summer (DST)	UTC12 (Hawaii)
ZIP Code	96761 (Lahaina)
Area code(s)	808

Olowalu is a small community located on the west side of Maui, an island in Hawaii. It is about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Lahaina along the Honoapiʻilani Highway. In 2020, about 100 people lived there.

Long ago, Olowalu was home to many people. It was led by a high chiefess named Kalola. People here traditionally farmed the land. Later, Europeans arrived and started sugarcane plantations. A sad event in 1790, along with the hard work of collecting sandalwood, caused the area to decline. Today, there are plans for new buildings in Olowalu. The area is also famous for having one of Hawaii's most amazing coral reefs.

A Place of Safety: Puʻu Honua
The Olowalu Incident of 1790
Farming in Olowalu
Olowalu's Geography
Olowalu Cultural Reserve
Olowalu Town Development
Gallery
See also

A Place of Safety: Puʻu Honua

For ancient Hawaiians, Olowalu was a special place called a puʻu honua, or "place of refuge." If someone committed a mistake or offense, they could find safety here. Once they entered Olowalu's borders, no one could harm them. Breaking this rule was a very serious crime.

This tradition helped keep peace and order in Hawaiian society. For people on Maui, Olowalu offered a chance to calm down and solve problems.

The Olowalu Incident of 1790

Olowalu Incident
Location	Maui
Date	1790
Attack type	Massacre
Weapons	Naval artillery
Deaths	~100 killed
Perpetrators	Simon Metcalfe

In 1789, Captain Simon Metcalfe sailed to Hawaii for fur trading. He had two ships: the Eleanora and a smaller ship called the Fair American, led by his son, Thomas Metcalfe.

In January 1790, Captain Metcalfe's ship, the Eleanora, arrived at the Island of Hawaiʻi. A chief named Kameʻeiamoku visited the ship. Something happened that angered Captain Metcalfe, and he had the chief punished. This event would have serious effects later.

The Eleanora then sailed to Maui to trade. One night, a small boat was stolen from Metcalfe's ship, and a guard was killed. Captain Metcalfe fired his cannons at the village. He captured some Hawaiians who told him the boat was taken by people from Olowalu.

When Metcalfe went to Olowalu, he found the boat had been broken apart. The villagers had used the nails from the boat. Nails were very valuable in ancient Hawaii because they did not have metal. Metcalfe invited the villagers to his ship, pretending he wanted to trade. But he had his cannons ready. When the canoes came close, he fired, and about one hundred Hawaiians lost their lives.

Weeks later, Captain Metcalfe's son, Thomas, arrived at Hawaiʻi island on the Fair American. Chief Kameʻeiamoku, who had been punished by the elder Metcalfe, was waiting. The ship's crew of five were quickly captured, and four were killed, including Thomas Metcalfe. The only survivor was Isaac Davis.

King Kamehameha I learned about these events. Another sailor, John Young, was captured when he came ashore from the Eleanora. Kamehameha decided to spare Davis and Young. They became important advisors to him in battles and dealings with other visitors. Captain Simon Metcalfe left the islands without knowing his son had died.

Farming in Olowalu

Historically, Olowalu had rich farmlands called kula. Hawaiian farmers grew many food and material crops here. Olowalu was known for its dry land taro and large, shady breadfruit trees.

Other important crops included sweet potato and plants used for clothing, shelter, and transport. These included kukui, wauke, 'olona, pili grass, and naio. A stream and many irrigation ditches helped water these crops.

For most of the 1800s and 1900s, Olowalu was used for growing sugarcane. A sugar mill also operated in the area.

Olowalu's Geography

Olowalu is part of an ahupuaʻa, which is a traditional Hawaiian land division. It stretches from the mountains to the sea. The top of the Olowalu ahupuaʻa reaches 4,457 feet (1,358 meters) on Puʻu Kukui mountain.

Olowalu Valley opens up to a flat, fan-shaped area made of soil carried by water. Long ago, the Olowalu hills had many sandalwood and hardwood trees. When these trees were cut down, the valley became much drier. There are now efforts to plant new sandalwood and 'ohiʻa lehua trees in the Lāhau mountains. This project aims to bring back the moisture levels to Olowalu Valley.

Ancient Hawaiians believed that all activities in an ahupuaʻa should keep nature in balance. Restoring the Olowalu Cultural Reserve helps bring back this idea of harmony and peace.

Olowalu Cultural Reserve

The Olowalu Cultural Reserve (OCR) started in 1999. It is a non-profit organization run by the community. Its goal is to bring back traditional Hawaiian culture. It also works to restore native plants, protect historic sites, and offer educational programs. These programs are for students, local people, and visitors.

Since 2006, OCR has been restoring 74 acres (0.3 km²) of land from Olowalu Valley to the ocean. They are rebuilding old irrigation systems and loʻi (taro patches) to grow taro and other traditional crops. The reserve is also creating an educational and cultural puʻuhonua, or sanctuary.

Olowalu Town Development

Today, Olowalu is a quiet community. In 2005, plans were announced for a large community called Olowalu Town. This plan included 1,500 homes and a large shopping area. It also involved moving the highway and building new roads. As of 2012, this project had not been built.

The proposed development is a topic of debate. It is planned next to one of Hawaii's healthiest and most unique coral reef systems. This reef has very old, large corals. It is also a rare place where manta rays come to be cleaned. It serves as a nursery for Blacktip reef sharks.